John Martin, devoted publisher of literary rebels, dies in Santa Rosa at 94
In 1966, John Martin founded Black Sparrow Press, a shoestring operation that he ran out of his home for years with the help of part-time assistants and Barbara Martin, who designed the books.
John Martin, an adventurous independent publisher who brought out the raucous work of poet Charles Bukowski, as well as the writing of other offbeat literary rebels like Paul Bowles, John Fante and Wyndham Lewis, died June 23 at his home in Santa Rosa.
He was 94.
His death was confirmed by his wife, Barbara Martin.
In 1966, Martin founded Black Sparrow Press, a shoestring operation that he ran out of his home for years with the help of part-time assistants and Barbara Martin, who designed the books.